The 23 Best PC Games of the 1990s

From genre-defining shooters and real-time strategy showdowns to surreal point-and-click puzzlers and dungeon-crawling RPGs, this era spans mainstream blockbusters and cult favorites gamers still argue about today. Which one takes the crown?

1. 1
   Half-Life

   Valve's 1998 sci-fi shooter that redefined narrative-driven FPS with its seamless, cutscene-free storytelling.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Doom

   id Software's 1993 demon-slaying shooter that defined the FPS genre and sparked the modding scene.
   699pts
3. 3
   Myst

   Cyan's 1993 surreal puzzle-adventure on a mysterious island that became a bestselling CD-ROM phenomenon.
   671pts
4. 4
   Civilization II

   Sid Meier's 1996 turn-based strategy sequel that let players build an empire from antiquity to space.
   635pts
5. 5
   The Secret of Monkey Island

   LucasArts' 1990 pirate comedy adventure that launched the beloved point-and-click Monkey Island series.
   498pts
6. 6
   System Shock 2

   Looking Glass and Irrational's 1999 horror hybrid of FPS and RPG aboard the doomed starship Von Braun.
   498pts
7. 7
   Fallout

   Interplay's 1997 post-apocalyptic RPG known for dark humor and branching, consequence-driven choices.
   440pts
8. 8
   SimCity 2000

   Maxis' 1994 city-building simulator that added terrain, zones, and infrastructure depth to the genre.
   440pts
9. 9
   Diablo

   Blizzard North's 1996 dungeon-crawling action RPG that popularized loot-driven click-to-kill gameplay.
   440pts
10. 10
    Grim Fandango

    LucasArts' 1998 film-noir adventure set in a stylized Aztec land of the dead, directed by Tim Schafer.
    440pts
11. 11
    System Shock

    Looking Glass's 1994 immersive-sim shooter starring the rogue AI SHODAN, a genre-defining forerunner.
    372pts
12. 12
    Age of Empires II

    Ensemble Studios' 1999 medieval RTS prized for its balance and enduring competitive scene.
    372pts
13. 13
    Day of the Tentacle

    LucasArts' 1993 time-traveling cartoon adventure sequel to Maniac Mansion, prized for its puzzle design.
    372pts
14. 14
    Duke Nukem 3D

    3D Realms' 1996 irreverent shooter famous for its destructible environments and one-liners.
    372pts
15. 15
    Command & Conquer

    Westwood Studios' 1995 RTS pitting GDI against Nod, famed for its FMV cutscenes and Tiberium lore.
    293pts
16. 16
    Planescape: Torment

    Black Isle's 1999 CRPG celebrated for its literary writing and philosophical Nameless One storyline.
    293pts
17. 17
    Star Control II

    Toys for Bob's 1992 space adventure blending exploration, dialogue, and tactical ship combat.
    293pts
18. 18
    StarCraft

    Blizzard's 1998 real-time strategy classic whose three-way faction balance still anchors global esports.
    200pts
19. 19
    Unreal Tournament

    Epic Games' 1999 arena shooter praised for fast movement and inventive multiplayer modes.
    200pts
20. 20
    Warcraft II

    Blizzard's 1995 orcs-vs-humans RTS that helped cement the genre's mainstream popularity.
    200pts
21. 21
    Quake

    id Software's 1996 shooter that pioneered true 3D engines and online deathmatch multiplayer.
    200pts
22. 22
    X-COM: UFO Defense

    MicroProse's 1994 tactical strategy game defending Earth from alien invasion through squad combat and base building.
    88pts
23. 23
    Baldur's Gate

    BioWare's 1998 Dungeons & Dragons RPG that revived the isometric party-based CRPG genre.
    88pts